Getting to Lima (Air, Road, Sea & Train)

Lima is the gateway for international tourists and business travellers to Peru. Getting to Lima is easy. The capital of Peru is well connected to the world and can be reached by air, road and sea, while a flight might be the most convenient way to get there. Lima is also the starting point to all other destinations within Peru.

Getting to Lima by Air

Flights to Lima arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Callao which is around 13km from the city center and about 18km from the tourist district of Miraflores. Several international airlines operate regular direct or connecting flights to Lima's airport from numerous cities in North and South America as well as Europe. Major airlines serving Jorge Chavez International Airport are American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Air Canada, Iberia and KLM.

Flight times depend of course on your exact flight. Generally speaking it takes around 8 hours from New York, 9 hours from Los Angeles, 6 hours from Miami and 11 hours from Toronto to get to Lima. From Madrid you can reach Lima in nearly 12 hours, from Amsterdam in 13 hours, from London with a stopover in 16 hours and from Sydney with one stopover in 25 to 28 hours. Additionally carriers like LAN Peru, Star Peru and Taca operate numerous domestic flights from major cities in Peru to Lima.

Getting to Lima by Road

The Pan American Highway (Pan Americana) is Peru's only international highway running from north to south along the coastline. In the north it connects Ecuador and the Peruvian cities of Tumbes, Piura, Chiclayo and Trujillo with Lima; in the south it connects Chile, Arequipa and Nazca with the Peruvian capital. The Central Highway (Carretera Central) runs from east to west and links the Peruvian highlands with Lima.

Getting to Lima by Sea

Since Colonial times Lima's international port is located in Callao, some 13km away from the city center. Vessels from all over the world bring cargo and sometimes travelers to the capital of Peru. Nowadays even some international cruises find their way to Lima via the port of Callao. Major cruises include Princess Cruises, Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Seabourn.

Getting to Lima by Train

There are no international rail services to Lima. The only public train leaves and returns to Lima's Desamparados Train Station on a regular base for a trip on the world's highest railway connecting Lima with the Andean town of Huancayo.